whine

¹whine

verb \ˈhwīn, ˈwīn\

whinedwhin·ing

Definition of WHINE

intransitive verb

1

a : to utter a high-pitched plaintive or distressed cry b : to make a sound similar to such a cry <the wind whined in the chimney>

2

: to complain with or as if with a whine <always whining about the weather>

3

: to move or proceed with the sound of a whine <the bullet whined … across the ice — Berton Roueché>

transitive verb

: to utter or express with or as if with a whine

— whin·er noun

— whin·ing·ly \ˈhwī-niŋ-lē, ˈwī-\ adverb

Examples of WHINE

1. He's always whining about the weather.
2. Quit whining and finish your dinner.
3. “I want to leave now,” she whined.
4. The workers were whining that the office was too cold.
5. The dog was whining because it wanted to go out.
6. The electric saw whined as it cut through the wood.

Origin of WHINE

Middle English, from Old English hwīnan to whiz; akin to Old Norse hvīna to whiz

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to WHINE

Synonyms: beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, complain, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Antonyms: crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words: object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with WHINE

bine, brine, chine, cline, dine, dyne, fine, Jain, line, Main, mine, nine, pine, Quine, Rhine, rind, shine, shrine, sign, spine, spline, stein, swine, syne, thine, tine, trine, twine, vine, wine